Thermostatic circuit-closer.



0. v. FITE. v THBBMOSTAT-IG CIRCUIT CLOSER. APPILIOATIOH' FILED JAN. 1'0, 191a.

Patented Ste cuit will be bridged post.

and State of North Carolina,

UNITED STATES rg'rnnr orrroa.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

01 CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

7 Application filed January 10, 1913. Serial No. 741,252.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CErHAs V. Frre, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenburg have invented new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Circuit-Closers, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in thermostatic circuit closers and has particular application to a device of the class described whereby electric circuits may be closed to-sound a bell, gong or other signal in case of fire,

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to cuit closer whereby in the event of a supernormal rise in temperature, an electric ciror closed so that an alarm in the circuit may furthermore, my improved circuit closer embraces the desired features of simplicity, efliciency and durability and may be manufactured and installed at a relatively low cost. I With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arran ement of parts set forth in and falling wit in the scope of the appended claims. 30

V In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a circuit closer constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the thermostatic element. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the circuit bridgin member.

eferring now to the accompanying drawin in detail, the numeral 1 designates a suitable casing or frame composed of side and end'members appropriately connected, one to the other, and forming a substantially rectangular structure.

Suitably fastened between the side members o t'the frame 1 adj acentto one end thereof is a base or block 2 equipped with a binding post 3 and a second binding post 4 suitably spaced apart from the first binding Also secured to the electricalcommunicati'on with the binding post 4 is a metallic plate 5 having one edge upturned as at 6 and then bent upon itself as at 7 to provide parallel members. Disosed between the parallel members formed by the bent portions 6- -7 of the plate 5 and connecting such portions as by a screw 8 is provide a thermostatic cirbe sounded, and,-

block 2 and in one extremity of a thermostatic element 9 composed in the present instance of a strip (1)? spring steel 10 and a strip of aluminum or under the action of heat. This strip 11 com tacts with the steel strip 10 longitudinally of the length of the latter that has the op posite longitudinal edges thereof inturned or bent upon themselves and cut out to form substantially V-shaped-gripping fingers 12 designed to contact with the ad acent edges of the steel spring strip 10. A circuit closing or bridging strip to one end upon the plate 5 by a pivot post Lt that has one end cut out to form a contact finger 15 adapted to engage a contact plate 16 secured to the block 2 beneath the binding post 3 and adapted to form oneterminal of an electric c rcuit, the latter including a suitable source of electrical energy and an appropriate form of signal and having the opposite terminal thereof tapped on to the binding post 4. The free end of the bridging strip 13 is-upturned as at 17 and cutout to form two lugs 18--18 spaced apart to receive the approximate extremities of the thermostatic element 10;

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,

the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent.

Assuming the device to be connected up to an electric circuit and the surrounding temperature to rise above the normal, it will Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

other metal capable of expansion 13 is pivoted adjacent I be seen that the aluminum strip 11 will exand under the action of the heat and so force the spring strip 10 laterally thereby swinging the bridging strip 13 about the closing the circuit at the pivot post 14: and contacts 15 and 16, the terminal or binding post 4 being electrically connected with the binding post 3 by way of the plate 5, the adjacent portion of the strip 13, the contact finger 15 and the contact 16.

It will be noted that the gripping fingers- 12-12 bei of V-shap'e and spaced apart permit the a uminum strip to ex and with a minimum of frictional resistance tween the two metals, while the bridging strip isacted upon in a positive manner by the thermostatic element to close the circuit.

The front and rear of the structure 1 are preferably open and covered by a bod y of foraminous material such, for instance as a u pnrliculfmr form screen 19 wherehy the may circulate freely about l he einei'its constituting the circuit closer.

While I have herein show 1 and described. my inveniion it will be noted that I eo not confine myself to the precise details of constrnciion herein clescrihed and delineated, modifications and. variation nmy he mmlc wi din the scope of the claim and Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I claimz-- A thermostatic circuit block, a pair of hinclii block and spaced. apari, e electrically connected 1 posts, a metallic plate Ureally connected to the other binding postend having one edge thereof unturned and then bent upon itselfto provide parallel members a, thercloser comorising a 1;; es on said i itionz: contact of said binding ,omeee niosi'eiic element having one end disposed between and secured to said parallel members and the opposite end projected beyond the same, a strip pivotally mounted upon said plate and formed at one end to provide a contact adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the first-mentioned contact, said strip having the other end thereof disposed adjacent to the outer end of said thermostatic element and upturned and out out to form lugs spaced apart and designed to receive the free extremities of said thermostatic element In testimony whereof I ailix in presence of two Witnesses.

OEPHAS V. .rrrn.

my signature lVitnesses A. NEWELL, A. NIXON. 

